Wish all these were just a nightmare.

‘The palace screams its silence, as if mourning the loss of the people whom once it resembled eventful for.

Why? As might be the palace screams, the heavy breath of the woman who stands in her place, almost as if she doesn't want to know what she did. The woman slowly walked to the room, which appeared huge and beautiful. The room contains the pictures of a lady, who possesses grace even in her portraits. The woman stared at the lady, admiring her for the very last time.

“Mother…” The woman whispered, it felt like a scream, as she began, “I apologise for everything I did, I never knew it wasn't the thing you expected from me. If you resent me, if you despise me, now. I won't be able to hold myself…” she stopped speaking the moment her heart felt heavy, she sobbed like a little girl apologising to her mother for the mistakes she had made.

But it's different, isn't it?

The woman looked like a fool! Apologising though she knows it wouldn't change a thing, can't bring the dead now. It'll all fall apart, like her. She can never escape her doing, she can never turn back again.

“Run. Run far away, so no one will see you as the villain.”

The voice whispered, The woman knows whose voice is this! It's the lady she considers as her mother, her ideal.

“Will everything be forgiven now?” she asks.

“No. You made a grave mistake. It can never be forgiven. Do you believe I am the person you loved the most that haunts you? I can assure you, I am not your mother, I am you.”

That's when she realised it was not her mother. It was she, herself. Who thoroughly resented herself all along. The voice isn't the palace or her mother. It's her!

She cried, cried until her lungs throbbed, her self-loathe could not be understood by anyone. Her regrets, her bad decisions made her lose everything including herself.

“I don't deserve to live!” She screams, and keeps weeping uncontrollably. The visible stress made her pale, lost in her own mistakes, “Please, please, give me a chance to change, I will correct everything…and will live happily with-” just then she falls to the ground, she is then deceased with a heart attack before she could realise it.

The force with which she fell caused the table beside her to shake, and the candle fell over which was on the table. The curtain instantly seized the fire, it spread throughout the palace like a flame in the wind, the entire palace blaze.

The pitiful misfortune of this palace which once was everything a person could ask. Why? It's the only question to the survivors, who worked at the palace and who are grateful to the people who lived there.

This is the end of the Woman.

She deserved this. Except the only uncertainty is does she really deserve this? Or is there another way around?’

......................

Time flies like the wind. Red Beischel has been in the library for two hours, reading the novel which only has fewer chapters. The missing chapters are very important to know the whole story. However, she slowly closed the book, unsatisfied, and put it in the row of old books on the very last shelf. Without denying, this is the best written novel she ever read, in her opinion. Also, how no one ever read this book except her in the library is also a sign that this book is unknown.

This is annoying, why would you keep a novel which has missing chapters? Also, this story is so good. The book doesn't have the name of the author? How suspicious.

Red thought, The book is totally anonymous, there are no names of the characters. To think of it, the characters' names must have been mentioned in the chapters that are missing, nevertheless, it's still readable. A few times, Red had asked the librarian for the novel’s details, but the librarian refused to. Saying that he himself doesn't know about this and who the author is.

The librarian also settled a rule for that only certain novel, that no one can ever take it. It is the only book that no one knows about, in social media or any platform this novel has no readers.

The original copy is in this library, so if anyone wants to read it, you can read it.

It was very surprising, a novel like this storyline has no readers. But can't blame them, it also has missing chapters. Who'll read something that has a prologue, a few chapters and an epilogue? Makes sense.

It was then when Red Beischel left the library to grab her lunch. Red could swear if Aly ever finds out about Red skipped breakfast so later she can eat lunch, Aly would disown her.

Funny.

Red halted when she witnessed Brahm Presley. She never thought she could see her senior in the street of all places! It's Sunday, and the only face she could see in the best solo moment in her life…was Brahm’s.

What is he doing here?! Oh no, if he sees me, I swear he'd ask me many questions. I wouldn't be lying if I say he's not better than Aly!

Red Beischel's dodging from Brahm Presley isn't the thing that would happen anytime soon, Brahm always found her, no matter wherever she goes. That indeed provoked Red. But since Brahm is her senior she can't complain very much about him. It's when Brahm noticed Red, eventually, she was standing there debating if she should just hide or get along with him. Or might just say ‘Hi’.

“Red Beischel, what a coincidence.” Brahm walks over to her, giving her a mean look. He always has been mean to her, not in a bad way, but rather in a controversial way.

“Hey…”

“Were you trying to avoid me, again?”

“No,” Red laughs it off awkwardly.

“Then why are you sweating?”

Not soon when she realised she was sweating, but it never happened before when she met him. So why now? And most importantly, she's feeling a strange feeling again, it is like a dejà vu.

“Oh, I didn't realise it.”

“Here,” Brahm handed her his handkerchief, convincing her to take it.

“It's okay, I don't need it.”

“I wasn't asking.” He leans in, his gaze fixed to her.

Red’s sweating is not normal, usually she never sweats even in summer until it is extreme, so why now? If Red’s intuition is not wrong, it's the episode again. If it bothers to happen right now, her weakness will be discovered by Brahm Presley. She doesn't want this, not now. Why of all people, it has to be her senior Brahm?

After regretting her decision of not listening to Aly about staying home is paying off. Hesitant at first, Red finally takes the handkerchief, and wipes her off eventually.

Brahm arches a brow, kind of surprised seeing Red Beischel accepting his help, which she never usually does. Red either avoids him or cuts him off with excuses.

“Red.” Brahm speaks, breaking the silence. “Are you feeling well?” the concern dripping.

“I- yes. Yes, I am.”

Please, go away, if I pass out here in front of you, you'll be the one to judge me first!

“Doesn't look like it.” He sighs, taking a deep breath, “stop running away from me, Red.”

Red Beischel's eyes started to blur out of nowhere, she could not separate reality and hallucinations. It's exactly a dejà vu, she heard it somewhere else too! She couldn't recall where. Why does he sound like he said this to Red before as well? So many questions, yet she couldn't find the answers to any of them.

“Red!” A blurry voice screams, she could not escape this. All she wants is for Brahm to be gone, and left her to be. Why would he be concerned for her all of a sudden?

It's just a nightmare, I know it'll go away if I open my eyes, it has to be.

“Red!!!”

“Red! Are you hearing me?! What happened to you?” Brahm asks solely, trying to keep his voice calm as possible, impatiently waiting for an ambulance.

The moment Red Beischel passed out, Brahm called the ambulance right away, it was the first time Brahm Presley witnessed Red's vulnerable side. He's pretty sure Red will regret it later when she opens her eyes. Brahm has always looked up to Red even when she avoided him, he knows what she is capable of. Regardless of his own state, he tried to know more about Red, though he was privileged for his ‘senior’ appearance. That is more than a thing for teasing Red Beischel.

Why did she pass out all of a sudden? Am I that scary? Brahm thought.

The ambulance thoroughly took away Red Beischel after. Brahm had visited Red three times already, waiting for her to gain consciousness. Brahm also had told Aly what had happened to Red in the middle of the street. It surprises Brahm more than Aly finds it usual, he never knew Red suffers from mental episodes.

However, Brahm stayed at the hospital over evening. Until when Aly returns. Though, staying beside Red doesn't bother him. He could stay here forever for as long as it is Red Beischel.

Red was never nice to Brahm for no good reason, although Brahm is acquainted with Aly, she assured Red that Brahm is a trustable person. But when she noticed that Red isn't comfortable, Aly never forced her to be friends with Brahm either. And so, Brahm never questioned their decision. Anyway, Brahm Presley patiently waited for Red Beischel to be awakened. Yet something feels off for Brahm.

...****************...

“How is she now?” Aly asks through the phone call, precisely concerned. Brahm had called Aly a while ago, to inform that Red wasn't fully awake yet. Red passed out due to heat exhaustion and that made her senseless. Aly also will be here in no time, her uneasiness leaps every time she suspects Red’s well-being.

“Do not worry. She's well now, as the doctor said it's not a big issue.” Brahm assured.

“Well? No. I haven't blinked an eye since I got the news! I don't know when I'll get to see her, I am trying every possible way to reach there.” She sighs, “Anyway, Thank you so much, Brahm. If it weren't for you.”

“Don't, I was also worried. So, there's nothing much to be thanked about.” Brahm clarified with a soft smile across his face.

“I am glad. I truly am, Brahm. Only if Red had seen your genuineness,” Aly replied before the silence fell, noticing that she ended the call. Brahm Presley could never remark with a statement Aly made, how could he possibly answer that? When she just reminded him of his weakness? He doesn't blame Aly either, it's an actuality and it shouldn't be hidden. No matter what, it is still something he couldn't face, Red's discomfort is not Brahm's motive if anything.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***